Review of Unleashed (2005) by Jay P — 25 Jul 2011

Surprisingly good movie. I mistakenly watched this believing it was going to be a martial arts movie, but was astonished to find that this was an actual film, and of a rather startling calibre. The action was only a small part of it. If you want to see this film for the fight scenes they are well done, but not the impetus of the story. Though spread apart, the fight scenes are very well done, appropriately contrived, and about %90 believable. The real gem of this film is its portrayal of freedom, enslavement, humanity and family. This movie is filled with complex character and plot development, through dialogue, wardrobe, and on-screen physical interaction.

Bob Hoskins brims with menacing charisma as Bart, a vicious loan shark, Danny's master, but a slave himself - 'leashed' to his own profession.

Jet Li is notable as an animalistic guard dog, kept in his place by the psychological trappings of a dog collar, which when removed gives him only the freedom to destroy everything around him. Danny one day fails to protect his masters from their debtors and gets away in the aftermath.

Morgan Freeman, of course, was conspicuously brilliant. With his daughter, together through unfortunate circumstances, they take in Danny (Jet Li) and incorporate them into their makeshift family, and reintroduce him to the world from which the gangsters removed him as a child. There he learns about the things that were withheld from him as a slave - the things everyone takes for granted every day.

Unfortunately Danny's escape comes at a time when Bart has finally found a way to get out of the business, but needs Danny to do it, and will stop at nothing to get him back, including destroying everyone and everything Danny has encountered since his escape.

Bart (with disgust):"This is it? Your home away from home? Your place of awakening? Books? Art? Music?".

Sam: "That man could talk some serious shit.".